Woodpecker toy



Jan. 14, T947'. F. E. THOMAS WOODPEGKER TOY Filed Feb. 1, 1944 liebe/alor Fig/ E27/omas Patented Jan. 14, 1947 sPATE NT oFFlcE WOODPECKER TOEr V y Frank E. Thomas, Chicago, Ill.

A Application February l, 1944, Serial No. 520,607 (c1. 1c-11s) `5 Claims. 1

This invention appertains to an animated toy, and is especially directed `to a structure comprising a gravity operatedactuating tape mechanism-which actuates a figure simultaneously producing animation in the said iigures, as well as producing a resultant tonal effect.

One object of my invention is to provide a gravity operated actuating mechanism, which operates in a uid lilled cylinder provided with adjustable exhaust means `so as to enable one to vary the rate of drop, or the gravitational velocity of the weight mechanism.

Another object of my invention is to provide a winding44 means for winding the said belt or tape actuating mechanism simultaneously with extension means on the said ligure which are,4

adapted to be tripped by openings in the said tape, belting, or conveyer actuating mechanism.

Other objects, features and advantages resident in my` invention will become apparent from reference to the accompanying drawing in connection with the ensuing description, in which like numerals are used to designate like parts, and in which:

Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of my invention. Y

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-section taken on a median line of Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view look ing inthe direction 3-3 of Figure 2.

, Referring, more particularly, to Figure 1, 5 des- `ignates the bole of a` tree which is, preferably, hollow in order t permit the mounting of suitable actuating mechanism therein,l 6 represents the figure of a woodpecker, whereas l, generally, designates the figure of a woodchopper, while 4, generally, designates a case on which the tree bole is mounted and in which suitable auxiliary mechanism is mounted in order to translate `the motion of the handle element 29 to produce actuation, as will be ,elucidated hereinafter in the description.

Referring, to Figures 2 and 3,'it will be noted that the bole of the tree 5 is hollow, and is provided with an opening 8, and an enlarged section near its base designated 4I in order that it may look like a natural tree and also to furnish space in which to assemble the added mechanism nec.. essary. The tree bole is, preferably, made up of a highly resonant material so as to produce sound when the beak of the Woodpecker and the ax of the woodchopper are brought to bear on the same or are brought in contact with the same, intermittently, as will be seen from the explanation following in the description.

Within this bole 5 is mounted a tube 9 which has a small tooth portion I0 bent ov'er from its upper portion in order to act as a stop for the counterweight I5 when it is raised, in order to allow its dropping to animate the Figures 6 and 1. At the upper portion a pivot II is mounted in which an idler pulley I2 is secured to operate rotatably, and to support thereon the tape or belting I3 which has its lower end I4 secured to ears on the counterweight I5. The belting I3 for a considerable lengththereof, is provided with openings 32 of suicient dimension in'orderto react with the toothed extensions 3l and 4U, respectively, and cause the saine `to betripped thus actuating on their respective pivots, thefigures 6 and 'I providing animation and sound elects as indicated by the dotted lines.

The tubing 9 is preferably held in place by pins 33V which are driven into the bole 0f the tree in order to conne the tubing 9 and prevent motion thereof. The belting I3 is wound about an idler roll 26 mounted on pivot 25 and in turn secured or fastened by rivet means 43 to the drum 21 of `the spool-like structure 28. The spool 28 is secured to the axle `l2 and rotates therewith. At the lower end of the tubing and Within the hole I6 on the top of the casing 4 is mounted a bushing Il, provided with a small orice I8, which connects with an enlarged threaded opening I9, and has a perpendicularly communicating lateral oriiice 20.

I9 is adapted to receive a screw 22 having a conically pointed portion 23 to permit adjustment to various positions, being held in adjustment by virtue of the lock nut 2 I The opening Zlin the case 4, provides accessibilityto the adjustment of the lock nut 2| and the screw 22. The conical portion 23 is: adapted to be adjustedso as to restrict `or enlarge the communicating orices I8 and 20, respectively, so as to permit the air in the tube Sto be expelled by the descending weight I5 either more rapidly or more slowly. The said valve mechanism providing a controlling action to the gravi.. tational elect of the weight I5 in its descent.

The ligure 'I of the woodchopper is mounted on a bell crank lever having an extension 38, and a :bent extension 39 being articulately pivoted at 36, the tooth 4U being adapted to oscillate when tripped by the holes 32 in the conveyer I3, and thus pendulate within the connement of the The threaded portion solid and dotted lines indicated, thus actuating the ax 35 to the full and dotted lines, whence it will produce a resounding and harmonious eiect when contacting the portion 4| of the bole 5. In like manner, the tooth 3| which is integrally mounted on the ligure 6 and which in turn is pivoted at the point 30 will cause the beak 34 of the figure 6 to contact the resonant bole of the tree and thus` cause an additional sounding eiect. The arrangement may :be so positioned that the action of the beak 34 and the ax 35 will be intermittent or will occur simultaneously. V

It will be noted, that I provide a clearance 31 in the top of the case 4 and a clearance 'opening 44 in the bole 5 in order to provide ample clearance for the movement of the iigures and '1 when animation occurs. f

The operation of the toy is rather simple, The handle of the toy 29 is grasped in the hand and as seen in Figure 1, is rotated counter-clockwise '1(asviewed in Figuresl and 2) in order to cause thevveight l5 to rise tothe top untillt contacts "the -stop tooth l I) within the tube Yil. In doi-ng so,

.the conveyer belt I3 is wound upon the-drum i2-Tof the spool'28, and at the same time the openings 32 cause the animation of the iigures tend 1 with their resultant tonal effects. when the weight is has reached the ton-the handle 2s "is released and the weight allowed to'drop; its

gradual descent according to the 'adjustment of lthejorices I8 and 2U respectively, thuscauses additional animation'and tonal effects toY be produce-d by the gures until the-weight reaches the top of" the bushing `I'l whencethe same cycle of y operation may be repeated. Thefoperation of my toyr is believed to furnish great Yamusement and rpleasure/to youngsters, providing the animation and sound effects `hereinbeforey expounded.

` Altho `I have herein disclosed a structure for providing animation-to two gures,V itis understood that more than two gures may be utilized,

lif it should be so'desiredg Aand if mounted in the `pat-h of travel of the actuating-beltingor member i3, Yanimation to many other figures may be supplied; inasmuch as my herein disclosure is sus-4 cept'i-ble of many Vmodiications, alterations 4and improv'ementsQI hereby reserve the'l-right to all l'such modications, alterations'and improvements "which come within the scope Iand spirit fof my invention, within the'disclosure i-n--the accompany- 'ing drawing, aswell as -within the purview Aof the foregoing Adescriptionf'my invention to beliniited -lonly by the subjoined claims.

Having thus disclosed Aand revealed my invention what-'I claim as nove1 and desire tol secure Aby Letters Patent is:

"1.'A toy of the character Vdescribed compris- `ing, a hollow resonant element, at least one fig- -te'ntly the said toothed trip means, causing a portion of the said-ligure to strike the-said -hollow vresonant element.

V2. Ato'y of the -character'descrlbed comprising, a hollow resonant element, at least one iigure pivotally mounted on the said hollow resonant element and provided with toothed trip means, counterweighted tape means provided with slotted engaging means adapted to trip intermittently the said toothed trip means, causing a portion of the said ligure to strike the said hollow resonant element, and fluid resistance means associated with the .said rcounterweighted tape means adapted to varyrthe descent fthe counterweighted element.

3. A toy of the character described comprising, a hollow resonant element, at least one iigure pivotally mounted on the said hollow resonant element and provided with toothed trip means,

Ycounteriieighted tape means provided with slotted' engaging means adapted to trip intermittently the said toothed trip means, causing a portion of the said iigure to strike the said hollow resonant element, and adjustable ifluid resistance means associated withthefsa'id counterweiglited tape means adapted 'to` vary the.- descent ofthe counterwe'ightedelement. 'Y

4. A `toy of the character described 'comprising, a hollow base element, 'a"hollowresonant element mounted `on the said 'base element; at

` least one'gure pivotally'mountedon the said resonant element and provided withtoothed 'trip means, counterweighted tape means provided with slotted engagingmeans -adapted to trip intermittently the said toothed trip means during downward movement of the` tape, causing a'portien of the seid ngure to strike the saidihe'llow resonant element, adjustable fluid vresistance means associated with the said counterweighted tape means adapted-'to `varythe Vdescent of the rvmittently Athe 'said toothed `trip -`means `during downward movement of theV tape, causing-a `portion -of the said guretol'strike the vsaidihollow resonant element, Vadiustable -fluld Yresistance meansv associated 'fwithlthesaid counterwei'ghted tape means adaptedto vary'the -descentf the counterweighted element, drum means 'rotatably mountedA in the -said hollow base elementfand secured to the free endof-the said counterweighted tape means, motivatingmeans associated with the said drum meansi'afnd a second 'ligure pivotally mounted on said base element -?andfpro vided with toothed trip means adapted tobe -in- -termitte'ntly Ios'cillated vbythe slotted engaging means of the said counterweigfhted tape"means, causing a portion ofthe saidscondaiigureito strikethe said hollowresonant'element FRANK THOMAS. 

